Confusing parameters

[Anemesis]

I'm a bit lost about my phosphate parameters. I have a huge macro-algae refugium, that helps with my stability of my reef. Now i've just found this table of parameters. For a Macro algae tank it says .5ppm and for my mixed reef it needs to be at 0 ppm. Right now its at .5 , so i'm ok for my refugium tank but not for the reef. How can i adjust this. Should i leave it at .5ppm to keep my macro's happy of the reef which is doing well i must admit.


Ideal Reef Tank Macroalgae Tank Fish Only

Ammonia 0 ppm 0 ppm 0 ppm 0 ppm

Nitrite 0 ppm 0 ppm 0 ppm 0 ppm

Nitrate 0 ppm 0-10ppm .5-10ppm 0-30ppm

Calcium 425 400-450 400-450 350-450

Alkalinity (meq/L) 3.5 2.5-4 meq/L 2.5-4 meq/L 2.5-4 meq/L

Alkalinity dKH 10 8-11 dKH 8-11 dKH 8-11 dKH

Specific Gravity 1.025 1.025-1.028 1.022-1.028 1.022-1.028

Temperature (F) 79 73-83 73-83 73-83

pH 8.2 8-8.5pH 7.8-8.5pH 7.8-8.5pH

Magnesium 1250 1250-1400 1250-1350 1100-1400

Phosphate 0 ppm 0 ppm <.5 ppm <.5 ppm

 

[Anemesis]

Wrong columns

Wrong columns

I guess this format don't take columns, the parameters should be red like this;


, Ideal tank, -reef tank ,-macro tank , -Fisk only tank


Phosphate, 0 ppm ,0 ppm ,<.5 ppm, <.5 ppm

 

[JonezNReef]

Honestly your overall numbers look in check and you want a little nutrients in your reef tank. Also I wouldn't chase numbers too much as that will drive you or anyone crazy. I say if your corals and macro algae are growing and colored up nice then you don't have anything to worry about as long as you don't let things get out of hand. Consistency is more important than perfect numbers. Just my 2 cents

 

[jda]

How are you testing it? Unless it is Hannah Ultra Low, I would not trust the .5 reading.

 

[thegrun]

If you are confident in your phosphate test result you may need to run GFO to bring it down, although I would not try to reduce it to zero. You are likely to have pale coloration if you reduce your phosphates and nitrates to zero. I keep my SPS dominated reef tank at the following:
Ammonia and Nitrites: 0
Calcium: 425
Alkalinity: 8.5 dKh
Magnesium: 1350
Nitrates: 4-8ppm
Phosphates: .02-.04
You can up the calcium and alkalinity a little if you want more growth, but fast growth typically comes at the expense of coloration.
Nitrates

 

[mcgyvr]

Just leave it.. you said your tank was fine.. don't chase conceptually perfect numbers

Attaining zero is a bad idea for any tank both corals and algaes need nutrients (nitrates/phosphates) to live and grow..
Too much is a bad thing.. and too little also..

If its keeping your algaes and corals doing just fine then don't mess with success..
If you are getting too much nuisance algae then you can reduce it some but realize that you are just starving both display and nuisance algae..

 

[f3honda4me]

Just leave it.. you said your tank was fine.. don't chase conceptually perfect numbers

Attaining zero is a bad idea for any tank both corals and algaes need nutrients (nitrates/phosphates) to live and grow..
Too much is a bad thing.. and too little also..

If its keeping your algaes and corals doing just fine then don't mess with success..
If you are getting too much nuisance algae then you can reduce it some but realize that you are just starving both display and nuisance algae..

What this guy said! If your tank is doing fine, don't chase numbers.

 

[Timfish]

FYI the average on reefs is .13 mg/l. Few reefers seem to be aware of this but only a tiny fraction of reefs are below .05 mg/l.

 

[Anemesis]

Ok guys thanks for the response, i'll leave it alone then. sorry for the columns lol this format doesn't seem to accept it.